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Third Quarter Nightmare Haunts Football In 56-21 Loss At No. 1 Saddleback

The Pasadena City College football team went toe to toe with SoCal No. 1-rated Saddleback, the nation's No. 4 ranked team, Saturday night at the Gauchos' home field in Mission Viejo. For 30 minutes, the Lancers created several scoring opportunities and headed for the locker room, trailing just 21-14.

The region's No. 14-ranked Lancers were thinking about another upset after knocking off highly-rated and then undefeated Fullerton the week before. Then an ominous fog rolled into Saddleback at the start of the third quarter like in a setting for a horror film as PCC became the sudden victim for an energized Gauchos' squad.

Saddleback proceeded to score five touchdowns in a span of 11 minutes during that quarter and before the fourth period built a 56-14 lead on its way to downing the Lancers, 56-21. PCC dropped to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in SCFA National Southern Conference play. Saddleback stayed undefeated at 6-0 and 2-0 in conference.

PCC quarterback Zeek Julien had a game of highs and lows. The once third-string signal caller started his first game and completed 22 of 27 passes for 243 yards. Julien endured six sacks and fumbled three times. However, his .815 completion percentage in the game was the second highest accuracy mark ever by a PCC quarterback. Sheldon Pierce holds the record at .838 (31 of 37) in a 1976 game v. LA Pierce.

James Owens had briefly tied the game in the second quarter at 14-14 on a 35-yard touchdown run. Owens, who finished with 87 yards in 17 carries, broke through the middle then made one cut to the right at the 20-yard line and then darted at the 5 to avoid a Saddleback tackler in reaching the end zone.

Defensive lineman Pone Faleofa, the NSC Defensive Player of the Week against Fullerton, started things on a great note versus Saddleback as he picked off a screen pass by Gauchos' quarterback Ben Gomez and returned it 18 yards for a PCC touchdown just 2:11 into the game.

Gomez went on to pass for four touchdowns, run for one score, and even catch a flea-flicker pass from wide receiver Rodney Woodland for another TD.

Lineman Allen Dixon made two sacks and Corey Clarke added an interception for the PCC defense. Running back Dustin Kalai scored the team's final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge. Ian Hamilton caught four passes for 105 yards. Returner Aaron Simpson added 98 yards on punt and kick returns.

PCC next plays Palomar College next Saturday, Oct. 29 in a 6 p.m. road game at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium, located in San Diego County.

[Photo--James Owens (9) runs the ball for the Lancers during their 56-21 loss at Saddleback College Saturday night, image by Richard Quinton.]